Sports Direct Premiership

Clandeboye Park, Bangor

Saturday 21^st February 2026

Glenavon moved three points closer to Crusaders at the bottom of the Sports Direct Premiership table with an impressive 3-1 victory against Bangor at Clandeboye Park. It was the Lurgan Blues’ first league victory “on the road” since the 4-0 win at Carrick Rangers on the final Saturday of last season.

Conor Falls (28, 84 mins) and Barney McKeown (66 mins) scored the goals for the visitors. Ben Arthurs (86 mins) replied for the Seasiders.

Michael O’Connor selected an attacking line-up with Nathaniel Ferris and Conor Falls in attack supported by Luke McGerrigan, Paul McGovern and Peter Campbell.

The Belfast man’s audacity was rewarded with a fine all-round display. Central defenders Barney McKeown and Harry Murphy won countless defensive headers, Sean Carlin was imperious in midfield and up front the industrious Ferris and Cliftonville loanee Falls combined well.

Glenavon dominated the opening exchanges. Its midfielders and strikers picked up the vast majority of loose balls and pinned the home side back for long periods.

Yet O’Connor’s men had precious few goal attempts.

In the opening five minutes McGovern shot over the crossbar.

When Ferris crossed from the right, Falls somehow failed to connect with the ball at the near post.

Sean Carlin’s shot from 20 yards was charged down by a defender.

After Campbell picked out Falls with a low centre, the teenager shot from 8 yards, but Lewis Francis made a vital block.

Peter Campbell was centrally involved in the opening goal. He won the ball deep in his own half and made a long penetrating run before moving it to the right for Falls to shoot past Lee Duggan.

Bangor, rarely seen as an attacking force, went close in the fifth minute of added time when Ben Arthurs headed Stephen McGuinness’s cross narrowly wide of the far post.

The first half did not finish until the 53^rd minute. It was punctuated by two long stoppages whilst the Seasiders’ Lestyn Hughes and Mark Haughey received treatment for injuries. Both were substituted before the interval.

The second 45 minutes saw an improved Bangor performance. Yet Glenavon continued to threaten. Twice in the opening ten minutes McGovern struck low shots from the edge of the penalty area which forced Duggan to make saves.

When Arthurs and Ben Cushnie exchanged passes 20 yards from goal, the latter let fly but Carney saved comfortably.

Lewis Francis’s wayward free kick went straight to the foot of Nathaniel Ferris. For a moment it looked as if the Magheralin man might be poised to lob Duggan. However, he delayed. When he eventually had a go, the Bangor goalkeeper dived full length to claw the ball away.

Glenavon doubled its lead from the resultant corner-kick. It appeared to be a rehearsed move. Barney McKeown peeled off from the crowd at the far post, ran to the near post and Peter Campbell picked him out with a measured cross. When the big Newry man headed goalward, the ball went into the net off Reece Neale.

Harry Lynch’s header from Neale’s cross was saved by Carney.

The visitors scored the third goal courtesy of an error by Duggan. The Bangor goalkeeper dribbled the ball to the edge of the penalty area seemingly oblivious to the near presence of Conor Falls. The young striker came from behind to nick the ball off his toe and shoot into the unguarded net.

Bangor immediately reduced the three-goal deficit when the unmarked Arthurs rose to power Tiernan Mulvenna’s corner-kick past Carney.

Nonetheless Glenavon saw out the remaining minutes to secure a vital win and keep its hopes of Premiership survival alive.

BANGOR: Duggan, Francis, Neale, Haughey, Lynch, Mulvenna, Hassin, Boyd, Arthurs, Cushnie, Hughes, SUBS: McMahon (not used), O’Mahony for Haughey (44 mins), Fallon for Cushnie (74 mins), Garrett (not used), Morgan for Boyd (74 mins), McGuinness for Hughes (34 mins), Mitchell for Francis (74 mins).

GLENAVON: Carney, Mountney, Burns, McKeown, Murphy, Carlin, McGerrigan, McGovern, Ferris, Falls, Campbell, SUBS: McMullan (not used), Cartwright (not used), Mallon for McGovern (81 mins), Lowe (not used), Gilmore (not used), Lindsay for Ferris (84 mins), Quinn for McGerrigan (74 mins).

REFEREE: Shane McGonigle.